THE STOLEN BOY.

A true Story.

BY MRS. HOFLAND.

ABOUT seven or eight years ago, Don Manuel del Perez, a Spanish merchant, brought his family from Europe, to settle at the town of San Antonio, in the province of Texa; which my young readers who consult their maps will find to be a country adjoining Louisiana, on the coast of the gulf of Mexico. The family consisted of Don Manuel and his amiable wife, a son in his ninth year, a daughter about seven, and a babe of a few weeks old.

Little Manuel was a sensible, good-tempered, lively boy; who, after the confinement of a sea voyage, naturally looked with great delight on all which the new world around him presented. Nothing he saw, however, struck him so forcibly as a

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body of friendly Indians, who came to San Antonio to sell skins and buy blankets; and he eagerly inquired of his father, who those strange people were. 'They are the original inhabitants of this country," was the reply; "and call themselves, very aptly ‹ red men,' as they are all (like these) a kind of copper colour."

"And are they all nearly naked, and painted?"

"Yes, my dear; in these particulars they all resemble each other, and there is, in fact, little difference in any of their manners or customs. They are divided into tribes or nations; none of which are populous, for they are engaged in almost continual warfare with each other. With us, at present, these people, and another tribe called Cadows, are at peace; but the Alonquas, who are cannibals, and the Camanches, another barbarous tribe who always travel on horseback, are at enmity with us; and their visits to the settlement are sometimes productive of considerable mischief."

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They are very grave men-I hope they are good ones, father?"

"They have some good properties, my dear; but are so addicted to their opinions and customs, that, with great power of reflection, they are yet obstinately averse to improvement. They are often

treacherous—always revengeful—and, from system, practise the most extraordinary cruelties towards each other, when prisoners of war. They have great acuteness-much personal prowess-and possess the senses of sight and hearing in greater perfection than any other human beings. You have my permission to associate with their children, if you like such dull companions; by which means, you will be enabled to learn more of them than I can inform you."

Thankful for this permission, Manuel was not long in forming as close an acquaintance with the Indians of his own age, as the habits of their silent and thinking parents permitted. He gained a sufficient knowledge of their language to make himself understood amongst them-learned the use of the bow-practised the war-dance-and amused his little sister with details of hunting expeditions, as he heard of them from the red men. When the tribe was withdrawn, the enthusiasm of the boy declined; other objects of interest occupied their place; and his friends, the Indians, appeared to have been forgotten.

During this time, Don Manuel had succeeded in obtaining a large house in the neighbourhood of San Antonio, in which he placed a numerous establish

ment, and so managed his arrangements as to give a handsome entertainment to his new friends, on the day when his beloved son was nine years old. On this occasion, the splendour and elegance of Europe were blended with the profuse hospitality of America; and the entertainment was extended far into the early hours of the ensuing morning. In consequence of the fatigues attendant on the past pleasures, the weather also happening to be warm, the servants were languid and sleepy, and even Manuel himself, usually the most lively person on the premises, felt inert and weary, and owned, "that it was a very good thing that birthdays came only once a year." In order to rouse himself the more effectually (his parents being still in the enjoyment of their siesta), about seven in the evening he took a turn on the terrace, and afterwards went to the stable to see his mule, which was a very handsome one, and a great favourite.

Just as he was speaking to the servant employed there, and patting the sleek sides of the pampered animal, they were both startled by a singular sound, neither resembling the cry of a wild beast, nor the voice of a man. The servant was an European;

but he had heard the war-shout of the Indians described, and he declared, with every mark of

terror, that," in his opinion, the Camanches were coming."

"Then we must run into the house, alarm the servants, get the arms, and

Poor Manuel's speech was cut short by the two doors of the stable being, at that very moment, thrown open, and a number of fierce-looking Indians suddenly rushing in. Two of them immediately seized on Diego, the servant, and carried him out by force, whilst poor Manuel sought to slip past them and escape; but in another instant he found his own arms pinioned, and he began eagerly to recollect all the words he had learned of the Indian language by which it was possible to move their compassion, especially addressing those who were nearest to him. Not one of them listened, or replied, to the unhappy boy; and, from their stern looks, he concluded every moment that he should be killed on the spot. Some hope, however, mingled with his despair; he believed that the noise made by the savages would have alarmed the household which, owing to the late fête, consisted of more persons than usual; and, as he knew them to be well supplied with fire-arms, it was possible that he might be rescued. In another moment, the sound of fire-arms from without seemed to confirm